Angle computer



y 4, 1954 c. s. ANDERSON 2,677,192

ANGLE COMPUTER Filed Aug. 9, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 1954 c. s. ANDERSON 2,677,192

ANGLE COMPUTER Filed 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l -CL.AMP To KNOWN VERTICAL 11 .39

9 Swmc Dll-u. T0 90 Patented May 4, 1954 STATES 2,677,192 TENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

The present invention relates to a plumbing device and more particularly to a novel angle computer for locating, aligning and positioning sheets of wallpaper, metal plates, pipes or other members or parts in a vertical or in a horizontal plane, or arranging and disposing them in any desired angular position or alignment.

One of the important objects of the present invention is the provision of a novel device for plumbing sheets of wallpaper to assure that successive sheets thereof are hung in parallel and aligned vertical planes whereby to secure proper pattern design and abutting relation between adjacent sheets.

Another important object is the provision of a novel angle computer which may be arranged for alignment with a vertical or horizontal plane, or may be readily and easily adjusted and arranged for accurately determining and positioning a member at a predetermined or desired angle with respect to the vertical or horizontal planes. When adjusted to the vertical, horizontal or desired angle, the device may be quickly and easily attached to the member to be positioned, whether it be a sheet of paper or fabric, a section of wood or metal, or a section of pipe to arrange said member in the desired plane or at an angle to the desired vertical or horizontal plane. For example, in locating a steam pipe or a drain pipe, it is important to mount the pipe at a predetermined angle to allow for a desired drop or fall to assure proper passage or drainage of the liquid.

The present invention further comprehends the provision of a novel means for computing angularity and for assuring uniformity in angular alignment whereby the operator can quickly secure or match any angle and continually duplicate the alignment or angle desired. Among such uses is the lining up of refrigerator coils, the securin of a desired angle in sheet metal work or in welding.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a novel angle computer having a spirit level and a dial computed through 360, and a novel means and manner of assembly thereof to assure optimum accuracy and to allow for ready adjustment to any desired angular relation.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a novel means and manner of applying and retaining the novel angle computer upon a sheet or object whose angle is to be determined.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, efficiency, economy and ease of assembly and operation, and such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and are inherently possessed thereby.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of the novel angle computer.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the angle computer of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of a corner of a room and showing the paper hanger employing the novel angle computer for vertically locating a sheet of wallpaper at the corner to thereby assure hanging this sheet on a side wall in its plumbed or vertical position.

Fig. l is a View in vertical cross section through the novel angle computer mounted on a sheet for plumbing or aligning that sheet.

Fig. 5 is a view in horizontal cross section taken in a plane represented by the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a view in perspective of a workman applying the novel angle computer to an upright section of pipe to accurately locate this section in its proper angular position.

7 is a fragmentary diagrammatic view showing the successive steps or stages of adjusting the dial and spirit level of the angle computer to the assembled relation of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view in front elevation of the present angle computer in which the level has been rotated through an angle of from the position of Fig. 1, whereby the device may be used in a horizontal plane or secure horizontal alignment.

Fig. 9 is a iragmentary top plan View similar to Fig. 2 but showing the computer anchored onto an upright edge or rail of a door or other section.

Referring more particularly to the disclosure in the draw ngs and to the novel embodiment therein shown for illustrating the present invention, the novel angle computer comprises a frame including a rear plate iii and a face plate ll preferably constructed of a rigid material such as metal or the like having the desired inherent strength and rigidity. These plates or front and rear members it and l l are spring-biased toward closed position and abutting relation by a spring clip or clamp member designated generally by the numeral i2.

This spring clip or clamp member includes a pair of manually-actuated clamping jaws I3 and is each affixed to or formed integral with the inner end of its respective plates it and H, and each clamping jaw provided with an outwardly projecting finger-engaging piece I5 extending through a slot it in. an arcuate or substantially U-shaped spring ll which spring-biases the jaws and their plates to clamping position (Figs. 2, 4 and 5) These members l5 diverge in such manner that the operator upon grasping them between the thumb and forefinger and applying pressure thereto causes the Spring-biased plates iii and l l to separate. ,An opening H8 in each finger piece I5 permits the angle computer to be hung up when not in use.

Mounted upon the outer or face plate H is a dial is in the form of a disc divided into angles from o to 90 in each quarter or segment of the dial. This dial is mounted on a center screw 28 and retained by a wing nut 2| and provided adj acent its forward edge or periphery with an elongated slot 22 adapted to receive therein the shank of screw 23. A wing nut 24 is adapted to lock the screw l8 and dial 19 in its proper, adjusted or aligned position. This elongated or arcuate Rotatably mounted on the center screw is a housing or support mounting a spirit level 26 in its upper portion and provided withoppositely disposed indicating pointers 2T adapted to be adjusted to any desired angle with respect to the markings on the dial upon loosening-ofv the wing nut 2|.

The front plate. Ii is provided with suitably spaced indentations or dimples 2'8 projecting beyond the rear surface of the front or face plate, and. withapair of spaced aligning tongues or projections. 29 preferably stamped out of the metal of this face plate (see Figs. 1, 2, 4i and 5). The indentations or dimples. 28' as well as the rearwardly projecting heads of. the screws 2:: and 23 are adapted to augment the holding power or gripping action of the plates it! and H, particularly if. the sheet, plate or member upon which the device is to be mounted and whose angle is to be computed is of a non-rigid material. The rear plate H3 is provided with openings or recesses 31: for receiving. the head of the screws 29 and 23, and openings or recesses 3| for receiving the spaced, rearwardly projecting aligning tongues or projections 29.;

Figs. 3 and 4 show the present device employed in hanging wallpaper in. which the device is clamped to the edge 32 of the wallpaper 33 with the edge 32 of the paper abutting the tongues or projections 25 projecting rearwardly from the faceplate Ii. By viewing the spirit level which determines whether the paper is or vertically disposed, the paper hanger swings the paper to the right or left in a manner similar to a pendulum until the bubble in the spirit level appears at the center. When this occurs the paper hanger knows that the edge 32 of the wallpaper 33 is vertically disposed and he thereupon pastes or affixesthe upper end of the paper to the wall smooths the paper downwardl Then upon removing the present device by pressing uponthe spring; fingers l 5, he opens the jaws of the clamp and. removes the device laterally to ermit the remainder of the sheet to be pasted to thewall.

The forward or outer end 34 and the similar end of-theplates Ill and il, respectively, are formed to provide elongated, complementary and substantially V-shaped grooves for facilitating anchoring the device onto an upright section of pipe as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawing, orv onto the edgev of a door rail or other member 3.! asshown in Fig. 9. In the position shown in Figs. 6 and S, the spirit level is mounted as in Fig. 1 if the pipe section 36 or door rail 37 are to be vertically disposed.

If the pipe section Bil-is to be positioned. at an angle with respect to the vertical, the spirit level. 2'3 is adjusted so that its pointers or indicators. 2'! are adjustedto the. desired. anglermarkingon. ifhen when the pipe. section 36 is the dial l9. disposed at the proper angle, thev bubble of the spirit level 28 will be; centered. If. the pipe section 38 is to be horizontally'arranged, the level 26 is adjusted tothe position shown in. Fig. 8;..01'

if the pipe section 38. is to be inclined as for proper drainage, the level isadjusted totheproper angle.

Fig. '7 discloses the means and. manner-of initially locating andjadjusting the spirit level and.

dial of the angle computer; This-is preferably accomplished by clampingzthe deviceto a known vertical as shown at (1). Thismaster aligning edge may be a sheet or metal'plate-and may have its accurately aligned, vertical edge abutting against the aligning tongues or projections 29.

The spirit level 26 is then adjusted as shown at (2) until its bubble is centrally disposed and the thumb or wing nut 2| is tightened to lock the level in adjusted position. Then the dial I9 is rotated. as shown at (3) to bring the or 0 markings thereon aligned with the ends of the oppositely disposed indicators or pointers 21 on the spirit level 26, whereupon the wing nut 24 is tightened to lock or retain the dial in this adjusted position as in Fig. 1.

However, after the spirit level 26 and the dial [9' have been initially adjusted as above noted, the level 26. may be subsequently adjusted to any other angular position. In Fig. 8 the level has been rotated through an arc of 90 from the position of Fig. 1 for securing horizontal rather than vertical alignment, but it will be readily appreciated that the level 26 may be positioned to secure any desired angular position with respect to the dial [9, and when the angle computer or device is clamped onto a flat plane, sheet, pipe or other member, that member may be disposed at any desired angle. If desired, the plates if) and l I may be formed with a strengthening or ornamental head 39, as shown.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

1. A device adapted to plumb and align sheets of wallpaper being applied to a side wall, comprising a pair of separable plates adapted to clamp therebetween an edge of the wallpaper, aligning means carried on one plate and projecting through openings in the other plate for loeating the edge of the wallpaper with respect to said plates, a dial adiustably mounted on the face of one of said plates divided into angle designations throughoutv its circumference, and a spirit level adjustably mounted on said dial and having indicating means adapted to be aligned with selected angle designations on said dial.

2. An angle computer adapted to be detachably mounted: upon a sheet. of wallpaper, metal plate, pipe section or other. member for positioning the same in a vertical or horizontal plane or: at an angle with respect thereto, comprising a=backing plate anda face platehaving springactuated clamping jaws for spring-biasing said platestoward contacting. engagement but permitting separation of. the. plates to anchor the angle computer onto the member being positioned, aligning projections onone of said plates and projecting. through openings inthe other plate, a: dial. adjustably mounted on: the. face of one. ofsaidplatesdivided. into angle designations,. and a spirit level adjustably mounted on said;dialand having indicatingmeansadapted to be alignedwitlr selected angle designation on said-dial:

References Citedin the file of.'this. patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 376,341. Panyard: .Jan. 10, 1888 391,717 Miller Oct- 23; 1888 449,609 Green Mar. 31, 1891 478,848 Dobelman July 12, 1892 555,771. Hohnbaum Mar; 3,.1896 1,456,431.- Frank May 22; 1923 2,168,505 Zenewich .Aug.. 8,1939. 

